Team Lightning

Our new Lightning team is growing by the minute…here are some of the faces to watch:

Eric Jackson

Eric “EJ” Jackson

Date of Birth: March 3, 1964

Height: 5′6″

Weight: 155

Co- Founder/President, Jackson Kayak

  • Sales, Marketing, R+D, CEO, President, Athlete, Janitor, Tech. Re
  • US Team Member since 1989 in either Freestyle or Slalom, and Olympia
  • Four-time and reigning World Freestyle Kayak Champion (1993, 2001, 2005, 2007)
  • Two Time Pre-World Champion(2000, 2004)
  • 2006 World Cup Champion
  • Three Time Winner Teva Mountain Games
  • 7 Times Gorge Games Champion
  • (4 Times Extreme Race Champion, 3 Times Boater-Cross Champion)
  • USA Slalom National Champion- 1990
  • Winner of Ocoee Rodeo 1984
  • Father of Dane, Emily, and KC, husband to Kristine

Emily Jackson

3/13/1990

Height: 5′3

Boats: Star, 2 Fun, Little Hero

Accomplishments

  • 2009 ICF World Freestyle Champion
  • 2008 World Cup Freestyle Champion Senior
  • 2007 World Champion Juniors
  • Ranked #1 Female Slalom Paddler in the US 2009
  • 5th Place Squirt World Championships 2009
  • 6 Time Teva Mountain Game Winner
  • Placed Top Three Each Freestyle Event Entered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 (and all except one in 2005!)
  • 6x US Freestyle Team Member

Featured In:

  • Women’s Adventure: Cover Story
  • Cosmo Girl
  • Cover of Playboating UK
  • Kayak Session: Emily Jackson
  • Tarzan: A Japanese Fitness Magazine
  • Fusion TV
  • National Geographic TV
  • American Whitewater Magazine
  • Most of EJ’s Instructional Videos
  • Here and Now- by Nick Troutman
  • World Cup Video- by Jez Blanchard

Philanthropy

  • Donated $5,000 of my own personal money to Soft Power Health, which was thus used in 2006 to pay for Doctors Salary for a full year, refurbished a school, helped fund sending a girl to medical school and encouraged people to raise another $25,000.
  • 6x Years of Teaching a Week Program in NYC for the Boys and Girls Harbor. Under privileged kids seeking an education get to spend a week on the rivers around NY and Connecticut with me!
  • Twice visited the rehabilitation center in Texas for Iraqi War Veterans and help teach them how to kayak!
  • Guest instructor for Slalom at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Kenya for all
  • African Nations. Kenya the host country had zero people competing in slalom to represent Slalom so a group of us went over and taught for a couple weeks! We had 10 Kenyans race!!

Dane Jackson

10-dane-in-c1Date of Birth: July 19, 1993

Height: 5′ 3″ Weight: 102 lbs

Boats: Star, Villain S, 2 Fun

Sponsors:

Jacksonkayak, Immersion Research(Gear), Lightning Paddles , FNA Head Gear

Places Traveled to:

49 of the states (at least driven through), Spain, Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Uganda, South Africa.

Top 3 Favorite Rivers:

Zambezi, Ottawa, Nile

Top 3 Favorite Creeks:

Mann’s Creek, Green Narrows, Upper White Salmon

Videos Been In:

Here & Now, Hotel Charley: The Lost World, Burning Time 1 (and A Few More)

Magazines Been In:

Kayak Session, Paddler Magazine, American White Water (and like 5 more)

Misc. Info:

I have been kayaking for 15 years now and It is definitely what I want to do for the rest of my life. My dad is Eric Jackson and he has taught me since I started kayaking, I would not be where I am today if not for him. I live in Rock Island TN, I travel 6 months out of the year travel all over the US in an RV, traveling to events and clinics.

 

Nick Troutman

5’6”
150 lbs
Date of Birth: Oct. 20, 1988
Hometown: Beachburg ON, 582 Ottawa river LOCAL
Boat of Choice: New Fun, New Rocker, New All-Star, I love them All!

Nick Troutman, from the “desk” of EJ…

Watching Nick Troutman’s progress as a paddler as a member of team JK has been a joy. He is the nicest guy you’ll ever meet. Humble, but one of the best, fun and friendly, but a fierce competitor, and young, but very mature. You understand why I let him live at my house and date my daughter if you get the chance to meet him! That is a hard pair of shoes to fill!

I started kayaking at the age of 13. I have lived beside the Ottawa River, being by the water my whole life. Though it wasn’t until I jumped into a kayak that I realized what I was missing. The sport has opened my eyes to many experiences only seen from the seat of my kayak.

I just can’t get enough of the adrenaline rush of running hard rapids and big drops, huge waves, as well as fierce competition.

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